Game Time: 

• the Dordt University women's soccer team concludes their regular season with a road match against Northwestern on Wednesday, Oct.28
• start time at the NWC Soccer Complex is scheduled for 5pm
• Dordt is 2-5-3 and tied with Northwestern for the eighth and final spot in the GPAC standings with nine points, 3-7-5 overall
• Northwestern is 3-7 in the conference,9-8 overall

How to Follow:

• live stats for all matches can be found at this link: Live Stats
• watch the match live via the GPAC Network: Watch!

All-Time vs Northwestern:

• Dordt is 26-9-1 all-time against Northwestern
• first match played: 1996
• Dordt is unbeaten over its last seven (6-0-1) vs Northwestern
• the Defenders are 7-2-1 in their last 10 against NW
• last year: 3-2 win
  • led 1-0 at half after a goal by Jenna Roberts
  • NW tied the match 1-1 with a goal from Lucy Staines
  • Karinna Tel put Dordt back up 2-1 with a goal at the 74th minute
  • Northwestern came back to tie it again with a goal from Camry Wilkinson at the 87th minute
  • Kelli Waypa scored the game-winner for Dordt at the 88th minute
  • Dordt outshot NW 10-5 (on-goal)

Defenders News and Notes:

• Head Coach: Payton Chitwood (2nd year)
  • hired in March of 2025 
  • served as the head coach for Warner University (Fla.) from 2017-24
  • was an assistant coach for Trinity International (Ill.) from 2011-16
• picked fourth of 12 teams in the GPAC preseason poll
• Dordt finished the 2025 season with an 11-6-3 overall record
  • the Defenders lost to Hastings (Neb.) 1-0 in the GPAC Championship match, one win shy of qualifying for the NAIA National Championship
  • the Defenders went 7-2-2 and finished tied with Hastings (Neb.) for third place in the GPAC
  • 14 players who started at least one match return, 20 total returners
  • return 22 of 49 goals scored
• this is the 31st season of Defender women's soccer (began in 1996)
• returning all-conference players: 
  • Maria Zylstra - 2nd team
  • Lameese Batarseh - Honorable Mention
  • Jenna Roberts - Honorable Mention
  • Joslyn Vander Molen - Honorable Mention
  • Paige Miller - Honorable Mention (2024 season)
• 2026 Record: 2-5-3 (T8th in GPAC), 3-7-5
  • last time out: def. Midland 2-0 on Oct.24
    • scoreless at the half
    • Abi Keltner put the Defenders up 1-0 with a goal at the 73rd minute
    • Megan Aukes netted a late goal (87th minute)
    • Dordt outshot Midland 24-3 (total), 12-3 on-goal
    • Emerson Skuodas made three saves
  • Dordt has nine points and is tied with Northwestern for the eighth and final spot in the GPAC postseason, 1 point in front of Doane
• 2026, by the Numbers:
  • goals scored: 25 (1.7 / match - 8th in GPAC)
  • goals given up: 32 (2.1 / match - 9th in GPAC)
• Leaders:
  • Joslyn Vander Molen - 7 goals (8th), 4 assists (10th), 24 shots on-goal (7th in GPAC)
  • Maria Zylstra - 6 goals, 7 assists, 21 shots on-goal (8th in GPAC)
  • Jenna Roberts - 4 goals, 1 assist
  • Abi Green Martinez - 24 saves

Scouting Reports:

• Northwestern Red Raiders:
  • 2026 Record: 3-7 (T8th) with 9pts, 9-8 overall 
    • lost five of last six matches
    • last time out: lost to Concordia 4-0 on Oct.24
      • outshot 17-6 (total), 8-3 on-goal
      • trailed 3-0 at halftime
      • Ella Top made three saves in 67 minutes
  • picked 9th of 12 teams in the GPAC preseason poll
  • Head Coach: Vitor Periera (2nd year)
    • hired prior to the 2025 season
    • spent two years as an assistant for Oklahoma Wesleyan
  • 2025 record: 3-6-2 (9th), 7-8-2 overall
    • did not qualify for postseason
  • return eight starters, 11 players
  • 2026 stats:
    • scored 26 goals, 1.6 match (9th in GPAC)
    • allowed 25 goals, 1.5 / match (6th in GPAC)
  • Leaders (2026 season stats): 
    • Grace Timm - 6 goals, 2 assists
    • Adah Baron - 3 goals, 2 assists
    • Mya Cole (all-conference) - 1 goal, 6 assists
    • Aliza Edwards (all-conference) - 3 goals, 2 assists
    • Ella Top - 53 saves (8th in GPAC)